INFLUENCE OF RADIO AWARENESS MESSAGES ON KNOWLEDGE AND REACTIONS TO COVID-19 AMONG RESIDENTS OF MAKURDI METROPOLIS
AnwamTarnaha; Victor H. Unongu; Patience Achakpa-Ikyo & Samuel Dogo
Department of Mass Communication, University of Mkar, MkarGboko, Nigeria
Department of Mass Communication, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria
Department of Mass Communication; Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria
Department of Mass Communication, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria
Email: asakismart@gmail.com; vunongu@bsum.edu.ng; nikyo@bsum.edu.ng; ddsamdogo@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
This study assessed the influence of radio awareness messages on knowledge and reactions to covid-19 among residents of Makurdi metropolis. The study seeks to identify radio messages on COVID-19 available to residents of Makurdi metropolis, assess influence/knowledge of Makurdi residents on Covid-19 radio messages and ascertain the reactions of the residents to radio messages on Covid 19 in Makurdi metropolis. The study was anchored on cultivation theory as it is concerned with the audience influence on radio messages. It used survey research method and questionnaire was administered to 384 respondents who are residents of Makurdi metropolis. The Stratified sampling technique was used. The study found out that residents of Makurdi metropolis were influenced by radio messages on COVID-19 pandemic. This has enabled them to react positively to COVID-19 protocols in terms of behaviour change which is capable of stopping the spread of the virus in Makurdi metropolis. It concluded that residents of Makurdi were knowledgeable about the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of the radio health messages broadcast to them by radio stations in Makurdi metropolis. This has helped in creating the right awareness which has reduced the spread of the virus in the metropolis. The study therefore recommended among other things that other states should aggressively use radio messages on COVID-19 to help them reduce the spread of the virus, Those responsible for handling health issues in other states of the federation should adequately embrace radio to disseminate the messages in view of its advantages over other media of communication and the need to use local languages often to accommodate those who are less educated in English Language.
Keywords: COVID-19;Influence; Reactions; Radio; Health Awareness Messages; Residents
